Continuously operable apparatus for chamfering



July 1963 F. MEYERCORDT ETAL 3,097,378

commuousw OPERABLE APPARATUS FOR CHAMFERING THE ENDS OF ELONGATEDWORKPIECES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 28, 1960 FRITZ E R C%% I HA N5HONN E NS ATTOR N E Y July 16, 1963 F. MEYERCORDT ETAL I CONTINUOUSLYOPERABLE APPARATUS FOR CHAMFERI THE ENDS OF ELONGATED WORKPIECES 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 28, 1960 INVENTORS reou rlt ens After 211 y1963 F. MEYERCORDT ETAL 3,097,378 CONTINUOUSLY OPERABLE APPARATUS FORCHAMFERING HE ENDS OF ELONGATED WORKPIECES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March28, 1960 INVENTORS eyv'courdt 85-85: m 611-: :ilonnzzu BY Michael S:Sfirikew z ltio n j pressed by a cold Unite 3,997,378 coNrrNUoUsLYoranaarn APPARATUS FOR CHAMFERENG run ENDS on ELONGATED wonkrnschs Thepresent invention relates to apparatus of the type used to manufactureelongated members such as threaded bolts and the like.

Articles of this type are manufactured as by being first pressingapparatus into a shape such as that of a headed bolt with an unthreadedelongated shank, and then the articles can be delivered to a threadrolling machine, for example, so as to have the threads formed in a wellknown manner in the shanks thereof.

The development of machines of this general type has evolved to quite ahigh degree of efficiency except for one phase of the operations, sothat this one phase of the operations prevents the outputs of machinesof this type from being as great as they might otherwise be.

At the end of the cold pressing of the blanks so that they formunthreaded shanks with heads at one end, it is essential to chamfer thefree ends of the shanks which are distant from the headed ends thereof,and at this chamfering stage it is impossible to maintain the outputcapable of being provided by the structures which perform all of theother operations. The reason why it has not yet been possible tomaintain the desired output at the chamfering stage of the operations isthat the chamfering is of course accomplished by a cutting tool, and itis necessary to provide arrangements which either move the cutting tooltoward and away from the workpieces or move the workpieces toward andaway from the cutting tool, and as a result it has always been essentialto carry out this stage of the process in a stepwise fashion, andbecause of this necessity the outputs which can be obtained with thesemachines has never reached the values of which they are potentiallycapable assuming that there was no unavoidable hold up in the operationsat the charnfering stage. It should be noted that not only is there anundesirable delay caused by the necessary relative movement between thetool and workpieces necessitating the stepwise operation referred toabove, but in addition the structure is considerably complicated by theprovision of a whole series of controls and adjusting devices requiringconsiderable skill and time on the pant of the operator in order tocarry out the operations in the best possible manner.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide anapparatus which will overcome the above drawbacks by providing machinesof the above types with structures capable of chamfering the workpiecesat their ends in a manner which will be capable of exceeding the largestoutput which can be provided by other parts of the machine, so thatthere will no longer be any retarding of the output caused by thechamfering operations.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a structurewhich will be capable of operating in a fully continuous manner as wellas in a fully automatic manner for efficiently chamfering the ends ofthe workpieces while they move continuously from one part of the machineto another part of the machine so that there will be absolutely nointerruptions in the operations as has hitherto been cccassioned by thestepwise operations required at the chamfering stage.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a structurewhich can accomplish the above objects and atent O 3,697,378 PatentedJuly 16, 1963 which at the same time will render the cutting tool usedfor chamfering the workpieces easily accessible whenever desired and atthe same time capable of being easily and quickly reassembled with theremainder of the structure.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a structure ofthe above type which will be capable of transporting elongatedworkpieces from one location to another while at the same time rotatingeach workpiece around its own axis.

The objects of the invention also include the provision of structurecapable of accomplishing all of the above objects and at the same timecomposed of simple rugged elements which are very reliable in openationand which Will have a long life.

With the above objects in view the invention includes in a machine forchamfering the ends of workpieces, a continuously operable transportingmeans for transporting workpieces from one location to another as Wellas a means which cooperates with the transporting means for rotating theseveral workpieces around their own axes, respectively, while they aretransported from the one location to the other location. Thus, with thisstructure the rotating workpieces will necessarily have one of theirends moving along a predetermined path, and in accordance with thepresent invention a chamfering means has cutting portions which movealong a second path intersecting the path of movement of the said endsof the Workpieces so that the latter ends gradually approach thechamfening means to be chamfered thereby.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a partly sectional elevation of that part of a machine whichincludes the structure of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan View illustrating pant of the structure of theinvention for transporting workpieces while rotating the latter aroundtheir axes, respectively;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of structure which cooperates with the lower endsof the workpieces while they are transported with the structure of theinvention; and

FIG. 4 is a partly sectional elevation of the part of the machine whichincludes the strrcture shown in FIGS. 1-3.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawing, it will be seen that thestructure of the invention includes an elongated ventical shaft 2 whichis connected With a pair of plates 3 and 3a which are parallel to eachother, which are spaced along the shaft 2, and which are coaxial withthe latter, these plates 3 and 3a rotating with the shaft 2. The plates3 and 3a with the shaft 2 form a continuously operable transportingmeans for transporting the series of elongated workpieces 4 from onelocation to another location. The machine includes the bearing means 1which cooperates with the shaft 2 to guide the latter for rotation aboutits axis. The bearing means 1 is fixed, for example, to an elongatedvertically extending member of dovetail cross section sliding in anunillustr-ated dovetail groove of the stationary frame 1a (FIG. 4), anda manually turnable screw member which is rotatably carried -by theframe 1a but which cannot move along its axis is threaded into athreaded bore of the bearing means 1 so that upon manual turning of thisscrew member the elevation of the bearing means 1 can be adjusted for apurpose described below. The structure shown in the drawings may formpart of a press for manufacturing bolts up to the stage where the boltshave unthreaded shanks and are headed at one end, and the structure ofthe invention deals with such bolts before they are delivered to athread-rolling machine which may be connected with the structure shownin FIG. 4 by way of the frame 1a.

The shaft 2 is formed with an axial groove which receives a key 7 whichis slidably received in an elongated axial groove formed in the interiorof a sleeve 6 through which the shaft 2 extends in the manner shown inFIG. 1, and thus the shaft 2 and the sleeve 6 are connected to eachother for rotation together while at the same time being axiallyshiftable one with respect to the other, and a pulley 5 is keyed to theshaft 6 so that when the pulley 5 turns it will turn the sleeve 6together with the shaft 2. The bearing means 1 fixedly carries throughan unillustrated extension of this hearing means a driving motor 5cwhich drives a pulley 5b which is connected through a belt 5a with thepulley 5 so that in this way the latter pulley is driven and with thisstructure the drive from the motor 50 is transmitted to the shaft 2which thus rotates about its axis, and of course when the bearing means1 is vertically adjusted in the manner described above the motor 50together with the pulleys 5 and 5b as well as the belt 5a are alsovertically adjusted so as to maintain the same elevational relationshipwith respect to the vertically adjusted structure. As may be seen fromFIG. 1 the upper end portion of the sleeve 6 is formed with a groovewhich receives a split ring bearing against the top end of the bearing 1so that the sleeve 6 together with the structure carried thereby is alsoadjusted in elevation together with the bearing means 1.

The shaft 2 is formed with an axial bore extending into the shaft fromits top end, and an elongated coil spring 8 extends into this bore andpresses against the bottom end thereof so as to urge the shaft 2downwardly, as viewed in FIG. 1. Thus, the shaft 2 is always urgeddownwardly by the spring 8 in the direction of the arrow 9, and thebottom end of the shaft '2 is pressed by the spring 8 against a pressureplate 10 shown in FIG. 1. At its upper end the shaft 2 is provided withan outwardly directed annular flange 11 which forms a stop meansengaging the top end of the sleeve 6 in the position of the parts shownin FIG. 1 so as to limit the downward movement of the shaft 2 withrespect to the sleeve 6, and it will be seen that in position of theparts shown in FIG. 1 where the spring 8 presses the shaft 2 against thepressure plate 10, the flange 11 has just engaged the top end of thesleeve 6 so that the shaft 2 cannot move downwardly beyond the positionshown in FIG. 1 with respect to the sleeve 6. A stationary bracket whichis carried by the frame 1a is formed with a threaded bore through whicha screw 12 threadedly passes (FIG. 1), and this screw 12 extends partlyinto the coil spring 8 and has a shoulder against which the top end ofthe coil spring lbears. Thus, by turning the screw 12 it is possible toadjust compression of the coil spring 8, and a lock nut 13 is carried bythe screw 12 to maintain the latter fixed in its position of adjustment.

As is apparent from FIG. 1, the plate 3 of the transporting means isfixed directly to the bottom end of the sleeve 6 for rotary movementwith this sleeve and the shaft 2. The lower plate 3a of the transportingmeans is fixed directly to the bottom end of the shaft 2, so that theplates 3 and 3a turn together. As is shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 and3, the plates 3 and 3a of the transporting means are each formed with aseries of notches 15 at their peripheries, and the notches 15 of one ofthese plates are respectively aligned vertically with the notches 15 ofthe other of these plates. The workpieces 4 are adapted to be located inthese notches so as to be transported by the rotary plates from onelocation to another. A supply means in the form of a chute of a magazineis provided for automatically supplying the workpieces to thetransporting means, and such a chute 16 is shown fragmentarily in FIG.2. The several workpieces 4 are maintained in a vertical position in thechute and they can either slide from the chute by gravity so as to enterautomatically into the notches as they move into alignment with theoutlet end of the chute 16, or a spring means may urge the line ofworkpieces toward the outlet end of the chute 16 to enter into thenotches. Thus, the supply means 16 delivers the workpieces to onelocation where they are automatically taken up by the transporting meansand moved along a circular path to a second location, the chute 17 beinglocated at the second location to receive the workpieces automaticallyin the manner indicated in FIG. 2, and by the time the workpieces reachthe second location, where the receiving chute 17 is located the bottomends of the several workpieces will have been chamfered with thestructure of the invention.

As was pointed out above, one of the major drawbacks of conventionalstructures is that the cutting tool must be moved toward the workpiecesor the workpieces toward the cutting tool, thus necessitating a stepwiseoperation. According to one feature of the present invention, thisdrawback is avoided by providing for charnfering the bottom ends of theworkpieces 4, a chamfering means which includes the rotary side-millingcutter 19 (FIG. 1) whose axis of rotation is parallel to but spaced fromthe axis of rotation of the transporting means 2, 3, 311 so that thechamfering means is eccentrically mounted with respect to thetransporting means. The cutting tool 19 is fixed with a shaft 18 drivenby the motor 28, and the position of this shaft as well as the outertips of the teeth of the cutting tool are indicated in FIG. 2 withrespect to the periphery of the plates 3 and 3a and the shaft 2. As aresult of this arrangement the cutting portions of the milling cutter 19turn along a path which intersects the path of turning of the bottomends of the workpieces 4 at an intermediate portion of this latter path.Thus, referring to FIG. 2 it will be seen that the workpieces when theyfirst leave the supply means 16 are located radially beyond the cuttingtool 19 whose cutting portions do not intersect the path of movement ofthe bottom ends of the workpieces at this location.

However, as the workpieces are transported in a clockwise direction, asviewed in FIG. 2, around the axis of the shaft 2, the bottom ends of theworkpieces gradually approach and finally are engaged by the cuttingportions of the chamfering tool so as to be cut by the latter, and inthis way a continuous operation is provided. When the workpieces reachthe receiving chute 17 their bottom ends will have had the chamferingoperations completely performed thereon.

Of course, in order to have the bottom ends of the workpieces uniformlychamfered all around the axes of the workpieces, it is necessary for theworkpieces to rotate around their axes, respectively, while they aretransported by the transporting means from the chute 16 to the chute 17,and in accordance with the invention a means co-operates with thetransporting means to rotate the workpieces around their axes,respectively, while they are transported. The means for rotating theworkpieces around their axes takes the form of an elongated band 20 madeof any suitable material such as sheet metal, plastic, leather, or thelike, this material being flexible but substantially non-stretchable. Asis apparent from FIG. 2 the band 20 is fixedly connectedat its right endto a stationary holder, passes around a guide member into engagementwith the workpieces when they are located just beyond the chute 16, andthe other end portion of the band 20 passes around a second guide memberto be connected to a second holder which is guided for axial movement ina suitable tubular guide. This tubular guide receives a spring means 21which bears at one end against the guide and at another against a washercarried by the holder so as to urge the latter in a direction whichtensions the band 21) and urges the portions thereof which engage theseveral workpieces radially toward the axis of the plate 3. As isapparent from FIG. 1, the band 20 is located at the elevation of theplate 3, and the structure which supports the band 20 is connected tothe bearing means but so as to remain at all times at the elevation ofthe plate 3. Thus, the band 20 provides a surface along which theworkpieces 4 roll while they are trans ported by the transporting meansand in this way the workpieces are rotated so that the bottom endsthereof rotate while being worked on by the tool 19, and thus theworkpieces are uniformly chamfered at their bottom ends.

In order to render the workpieces easily rotatable the plate 3 carries aplurality of rollers 20a which are supported for free rotation on theplate 3, and a pair of rollers are located closely adjacent to theopposite sides of each notch projecting slightly into the notch so thatthe shanks of the workpieces engage the rollers 26a and thus theworkpieces can rotate freely while being transported.

At the elevation of the lower plate 3a of the transporting means aseries of segments 22 (FIG. 3) are carried by a framework connected tothe motor 28, and the segments 22 have surfaces directed toward the axisof the plate 3a and engaging the workpieces so as to maintain theworkpieces in the notches of the plate 3a. The several segments 22 areformed with elongated slots 23 through which respectively extend pins 24fixedly carried by the structure which carries the segments 22 so thatthese segments are guided by the pin-and-slot structure 23, 24 forradial movement toward and away from the axis of the plate 3a, and thestructure which carries the segments 22 also carries an elongated coilspring 25 which is tensioned between a pair of supporting postsconnected respectively to the ends of the coil spring. The spring 25extends into outer grooves respectively formed in the segments 22 sothat the spring 25 urges these segments toward the axis of the plate 3ato maintain the segments in engagement with the workpieces, and thus theworkpieces are reliably maintained in the notches of the plate 3a.

Referring to FIG. 1, the shaft 2 is shown therein oarrying at its bottomend a bearing 26 which receives an upper projection of the pressureplate which has a lower projection received in a bearing 27 which isconnected to the top end of the drive shaft 18 which is keyed to theannular tool carrying member which carries the tool 19. The spring 8guarantees that the shaft 2 is pressed at its bottom end against thepressure plate 10, and through this pressure plate 10 the transportingmeans is connected with the chamfering means. Of course, the upper plate3 is vertically adjustable toward and away from the lower plate 3a sothat the transporting means can accommodate workpieces of differentlength, and the vertical adjustment of the above-referred to dovetailmember will result in vertical movement of the bearing means 1 togetherwith the sleeve 6, the upper plate 3, the pulley 5, the structure forrotating the latter, the band 20, and the structure for supporting andtensioning this band, this latter structure being carried by the bearingmeans 1. In this way, while the shaft 2 remains stationary and inengagement with the pressure plate 10, it is possible to adjust all ofthe structure carried by the bearing means 1 so as to adjust theelevation of the plate 3 with respect to the plate 3a which is fixed tothe bottom end of the shaft 2.

In accordance with the present invention, the abovedescribed supportmeans for the bearing means 1 afid the structure carried thereby isentirely independent of a second support means which carries the motor28 and the chamfering tool 19 as well as the segments 22 and the spring25. This latter support means on the one hand enables the elevation ofthe cutting tool to be adjusted and on the other hand enables thechamfering tool to be turned to an inoperative position where it iseasily accessible so as to be capable of convenient removal orsharpening, replacement, or the like. Thus, referring to FIG. 1, it willbe seen that the framework 29 carries the motor 2 8 as well as thestructure which supports the segments 22 and the carrier for the tool19, :and this framework 29 has a pair of extensions 29a and 29b formedwith coaxial bores which receive a shaft. 30, the upper extension 291)resting on a shoulder of the shaft 30, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 4.This shaft 30 is turnable in a pair of stationary coaxial bearings 31aand 31b fixed to the frame 1a of the machine, and the: lower bearing 31aturnably carries a nut 32 to which a. handwheel 33 is fixed. Thus, byturning the handwheel 33 the nut 32 will be turned, and a threadedportion of the shaft 30 is threaded into this nut while the shaft 30 isprovided with a key way carrying a key received by the bearing 31b sothat the shaft 30 can move axially but cannot turn. Thus, upon turningof the nut 32 the elevation of the shaft 30' will be changed and it canbe moved downwardly from the position shown in FIG. -1 so as to lowerthe entire structure 29 and all of the parts carried thereby. Because ofthe engagement of the stop shoulder 11 with the top end of the sleeve 6the shaft 2 cannot move downwardly beyond the position shown in FIG. 1,and thus upon downward movement of the shaft 30 and the framework 29 thetool 19 will be lowered away from the shaft 2 until the tool 19 can beturned together with the motor 28 and the frame-work 29 around the shaft30' so as to render the tool 19 freely accessible. Of course, thepressure plate 141 is lowered with the tool 19. In order to replace thetool 19 in its operating position it is simply turned back and raiseduntil the upper boss of the pressure plate ltl enters into the bearing26. If the tool 19 should be moved upwardly beyond the position shown inFIG. 1 in order to have a better position with respect to the bottom endof the workpieces, for example, the plate 3a and shaft 2 will moveupwardly with the tool 19 and the spring 8 will be compressed to agreater degree. Thus, the shaft 2 automatically accommodates itself tothe elevation of the tool 19. The framework 29 can be lowered until itsextension 2% engages the bearing 31b.

Of course, instead of the above-described independent drives for thetransporting means 2, 3, 3a and the tool 19, respectively, it ispossible to drive these structures from the drive of the press whichforms the workpieces which are acted on by the tool 19.

It will be noted that with the structure of the invention not only isthere a continuous movement of the workpieces with respect to thecontinuously rotating tool 19, but in addition several of the workpiecesare simultaneously acted on by the tool 19.

Of course, variations of the above-described structure are possiblewithin the scope of the invention. For example, instead of springs 8, 21and 25 it is possible to use pistons acted upon by any pressure fluid.Also, instead of a continuous band 20 it is possible to use a series ofconnected segments similar to the segments 22 of FIG. 3 for the purposeof providing a surface along which the workpieces roll "while they aretransported, such segments being resiliently urged toward the axis ofthe plate 3 to provide the necessary frictional contact between therolling surface and the workpieces. Also, instead of rollers 20a, it ispossible to mount on the plate 3 rotary clamps to which the workpiecesare clamped so as to rotate with these clamps.

With the structure of the invention the several workpieces areautomatically transported while being simultaneously rotated aroundtheir axes, respectively, and the path along which they are transportedcauses the workpieces to gradually approach and finally engage thecutting tool 19.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofchamfering apparatus differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in acontinuously operated chamfering apparatus, it is not intended to belimited to the details shown, since various modifications and structuralchanges may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of thepresent invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a continuously operable apparatus for chamfering the ends ofelongated workpieces, in combination, continuously operable rotarytransporting means rotatable about a vertical axis for successivelytransporting elongated vertical workpieces from one location to anotherlocation with one end of each workpiece moving along a first arcuatepath during turning of the workpieces with said transporting means;continuously operable chamfering means for chamfering said one ends ofthe workpieces, said chamfering means having rotary cutting portionswhich move along a second arcuate path intersecting said first path atan intermediate portion thereof so that said one end of each workpiecegradually approaches the cutting portions to be cut thereby duringtransportation of the workpieces by said transporting means; meanscooperating with said transporting means for rotating each workpiecearound its own axis while each workpiece is transported by saidtransporting means so that the cut-- ting portions will chamfer therotating ends of the workpieces, said charnfering means being locatedbeneath and directly adjacent to a part of said transporting means;spring means urging said part of said transporting means downwardlytoward said chamfering means; support means cooperating with saidcharnfering means for supporting the same for movement downwardly fromand upwardly toward said transporting means and said support means alsosupporting said chamfering means for turning movement away from saidtransporting means after said chamfering means has been lowered awayfrom said transporting means; and stop means cooperating with saidtransporting means for limiting the downward movement of said partthereof, so that said part of said transporting means will not followthe downward movement of said chamfering means when the latter is moveddownwardly away from said transporting means.

2. In a machine for chamfering the ends of elongated workpieces, incombination, a pair of spaced parallel coaxial plates each formed withinits periphery with a plurality of notches, and the notches of one platebeing aligned with notches of the other plate; an elongated shaftextending along the common axis of said plates and connected to saidplates to rotate the latter when said shaft rotates, one of said platesbeing located at one end of said shaft; supply means cooperating withsaid plates for supplying thereto a series of elongated workpieces whichextend parallel to said shaft and which enter into the aligned notchesof said plates during rotation thereof with said shaft with eachworkpiece respectively engaged adjacent its ends by said plates; arotary side milling cutter located closely adjacent to said one plate atthe end of said shaft and having an axis of rotation parallel to butspaced from the axis of rotation of said shaft, said cutter beingadapted to be positively driven and having teeth which turn into thepath of movement of the ends of the workpieces engaged by said oneplate; a pressure plate located between and engaging said cutter andsaid end of said shaft and said pressure plate respectively carrying atopposite sides thereof a pair of bearing means which are-respectivelycoaxial with said shaft and cutter and which guide said shaft and cutterfor rotary movement, whereby said pressure plate and pair of bearingmeans serve to interconnect the shaft and cutter, said pressure platebeing carried by said cutter and said shaft, being supported by saidpressure plate; and means cooperating with the plates for providing theworkpieces with a surface along which they roll while they turn withsaid plates about the axis of said shaft, so that the workpieces willrotate around their axes while they are cut by said side milling cutterto be chamfered by the latter.

3. In a machine for charnfering the ends of elongated workpieces, incombination, a pair of spaced parallel coaxial plates each formed withinits periphery with a plurality of notches, and the notches of one platebeing aligned with notches of the other plate; an elongated shaftextending along the common axis of said plates and connected to saidplates to rotate the latter when said shaft rotates, one of said platesbeing located at one end of said shaft; supply means cooperating withsaid plates for supplying thereto a series of elongated workpieces whichextend parallel to said shaft and which enter into the aligned notchesof said plates during rotation thereof with said shaft with eachworkpiece respectively engaged adjacent its ends by said plates; arotary side milling cutter located closely adjacent to said one plate atthe end of said shaft and having an axis of rotation parallel to butspaced from the axis of rotation of said shaft, said cutter beingadapted to be positively driven and having teeth which turn into thepath of movement of the ends of the warkpieces engaged by said oneplate; a pres sure plate located between said shaft and cutter andrespectively, carrying at opposite sides a pair of bearing means coaxialwith said shaft and cutter and guiding said shaft and cutter,respectively, for rotary movement, so that said pressure plate and pairof bearing means serve to interconnect said shaft and cutter, saidpressure plate being carried by said cutter and said shaft beingsupported by said pressure plate; means cooperating with the plates forproviding the workpieces with a surface along which they roll while theyturn with said plates about the axis of said shaft, so that theworkpieces will rotate around their axes while they are out by said sidemilling cutter to be chamfered by the latter; limiting means limitingthe movement of said plates and shaft toward said cutter; support meanssupporting said cutter for movement along its axis toward and away fromsaid one plate at said end of said shaft, said support means alsosupporting said cutter for movement around an axis parallel to butspaced from the axis of said cutter as well as the axis of said shaft,so that the cutter can be moved away from the shaft and plates and thenturned to a position where said cutter is accessible.

4. In a machine for chamfering the ends of elongated workpieces, incombination, a pair of spaced parallel coaxial plates each formed in itsperiphery with a plurality of notches, and the notches of one platebeing aligned with the notches of the other plate; a rotary sleeveconnected to one plate for rotating the same; an elongated shaftextending through said rotary sleeve along the common axis of saidplates and sleeve and the other of said plates being connected to an endof said shaft which is distant from said sleeve; means connecting saidshaft and sleeve to each other for rotation together but freeing saidshaft for axial movement relative to said sleeve whereby said shaftrotates with said sleeve so that said plates rotate together and saidother plate which is connected to said end of said shaft is movabletoward and away from said one plate which is connected to said sleeve;supply means cooperating with said plates for supplying thereto a seriesof elongated workpieces which extend parallel to said shaft and whichenter into the aligned notches of said plates during rotation thereofwith said shaft and sleeve with each workpiece respectively engagedadjacent its ends by said plates; a rotary side milling cutter adaptedto be positively driven located closely adjacent to said other plate atsaid end of said shaft and having its axis of rotation parallel to butspaced from the axis of rotation of said shaft, said cutter having teethwhich turn into the path of movement of the ends of said workpiecesengaged by said other plate; a pressure plate located between andengaging said other plate which is fixed to said end of said shaft andsaid rotary cutter, said pressure plate being carried by said rotarycutter and said shaft being supported by said pressure plate; springmeans cooperating with said shaft for urging the latter toward saidcutter so as to maintain said other plate and said cutter in engagementwith said pressure plate; means cooperatingwith said pair of plates forproviding the workpieces with a surface along which they roll while theyturn with said pair of plates about the axis of said shaft so that theworkpieces will rotate around their axes while they are cut by said sidemilling cutter to be chamfered by the latter; and means operativelyconnected to said cutter for moving the same axially so that thedistance 1% between said pair of plates will be adjusted While saidother plate which is connected to said end of said shaift remains at thesame distance from said cutter and has the same relationship theretoirrespective of the adjusted distance between said pair of plates.

5. In a machine as recited in claim 4, said pressure plate respectivelycarrying at opposite sides a pair of bearing means respectively coaxialwith said shaft and cutter and cooperating therewith to guide the samefor rotary movement so that said pressure plate and pair of bearingmeans serve to interconnect said shaft with said cutter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS993,981 Grover May 30, 1911 1,660,417 Crehan Feb. 28, 1928 1,697,595Henderson Jan. 1, 1929 2,519,434 Buccicone Aug. 22, 1950 2,716,905Wernli Sept. 6, 1955

1. IN A CONTINUOUSLY OPERABLE APPARATUS FOR CHAMFERING THE ENDS OFELONGATED WORKPIECES, IN COMBINATION, CONTINUOUSLY OPERABLE ROTATARYTRANSPORTABLE ABOUT A VERTIVAL AXIS FOR SUCCESSIVELY TRANSPORTINGELONGATED VERTICAL WORKPIECES FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER LOCATION WITHONE END OF EACH WORKPIECE MOVING ALONG A FIRST ARCUATE PATH DURINGTURNING OF THE WORKPIECES WITH SAID TRANSPORTING MEANS; CONTINUOUSLYOPERABLE CHAMFERING MEANS FOR CHAMFERING SAID ONE ENDS OF THEWORKPIECES, SAID CHAMFERING MEANS HAVING ROTARY CUTTING PORTIONS WHICHMOE ALONG A SECOND ARCUATE PATH INTERSECTING SAID FIRST PATH AT ANINTERMEDIATE PORTION THEREOF SO THAT SAID ONE END OF EACH WORKPIECEGRADUALLY APPROACHES THE CUTTING PORTIONS TO BE CUT THEREBY DURINGTRANSPORTATION OF THE WORKPIECES BY SAID TRANSPORTING MEANS; MEANSCOOPERATING WITH SAID TRANSPORTING MEANS FOR ROTATING EACH WORKPIECEAROUND ITS OWN AXIS WHILE EACH WORKPIECE IS TRANSPORTED BY SAIDTRANSPORTING MEANS SO THAT THE CUT-